Portrait of a Woman with a Lace Collar 1632 - 1635

This is Michiel Jansz. van Mierevelt’s “Portrait of a Woman with a Lace Collar,” painted with oils on wood. Though the artist's brushwork is skillful, it's the lace collar that commands our attention. Creating lace was an incredibly labor-intensive process, often involving many skilled workers, mostly women, to produce even a small amount of finished fabric. The demand for lace fueled complex economic systems, connecting producers, merchants, and consumers across Europe. When looking at this portrait, consider the social and economic implications of such an item of clothing. The sitter's choice to wear such a garment reflects her social status and wealth, but also highlights the labor and skill required to produce such a delicate textile. This painting then is not just a portrait of a woman, but also a record of the complex relationships between art, labor, and consumption in the 17th century.